Artistic Direction

Michael Turner was born in Birmingham and, following a number of years study of the violin and viola, settled on percussion as his principal instrumental study. He has also undertaken extensive work as a choral singer, being involved with a number of choral groups including the CBSO Chorus.

In 1980 he began his first studies of conducting, attending courses with John Carewe and George Hurst at the Dartington and Canford Summer Schools respectively during the 1980`s. He also received tuition from Hilary Davan Wetton who instilled in him a desire to follow the same conducting technique as he had learnt from Sir Adrian Boult. While at Leicester University, Michael formed the Studio 9 Chamber Orchestra, in Birmingham, which gave a number of concerts at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham to high critical acclaim.

Michael was appointed Music Director of the Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra in 1996 and the Oswestry Sinfonia in 2014. He made his professional conducting debut with the Milton Keynes City Orchestra in 1995 and has worked with a number of professional ensembles including the Manchester Camerata in 2007. As a choral conductor, Michael has worked with groups including the University of Leicester Singers, City Voices (Birmingham), Harlington Festival Chorus, the Birmingham Singers, the Marches Community Choir (Shropshire).

Michael was Music Director of the More Singers (Shropshire) for the 2010/11 season, has been Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Singers (Shrewsbury) and is currently Music Director of (Church) Stretton Choral Society. Michael has been an active composer for some time writing works ranging from church anthems and carols to pieces for a vast range of instrumental combinations. In the orchestral field his work The Deluge was premiered by The Phoenix Orchestra (in Birmingham) in 1986, while the Bloomsbury Chamber Orchestra has premiered his works Dance Sketches, Waiitouque Celebration, Then Only the Empty Spaces, A War Song Medley and concertos for Horn and violin. In 1995 a substantial work for orchestra, choir and narrator, Bunyan`s Progress (charting the life and times of John Bunyan), was premiered by the Milton Keynes City Orchestra, Cantamus Chamber Choir and narrator Michael Powles under Michael`s direction. His most recent composition of note was a brass band commission for the Jackfield Band, Coalport 1799, premiered at the 2024 Ironbridge Brass Band Festival.

Michael worked in the record industry in London for 12 years, combining this with arts administration in the festivals field and lecturing in music and copyright. Michael has always combined his work as a musician with roles working in wider cultural roles often in community settings. He has been a festival administrator, was Chairman and later President of the Harlington Festival Society (Bedfordshire), a Member of the Advisory Board of the British Music Information Centre and has served on many committees within the national and international music copyright business.

Michael managed Acton Scott Historic Working Farm for a number of years where, under Michael's management, the farm gained national fame as a site for many popular BBC TV series including Victorian Farm and its various spin-offs. Most recently, Michael has led work re-developing The Drill Hall, an arts venue in Chepstow and is now undertaking a similar role at a venue in Leominster, Herefordshire.